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Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy and Triumph
“Lots of people have dreams, but C. Vivian Stringer is the dream—a coalminer’s daughter who believed when her Poppa told her there was no obstacle she could not surmount. And she lives that dream, teaching others to rise up to meet challenges, turning underdogs into champions again and again—on and off the court. This is the quintessential American story, of a woman and of a family pulling together against the odds. Standing Tall offers an important message of hope to so many.”
—John Chaney, Hall of Fame college basketball coach
At a time when heroes are too rare, C. Vivian Stringer sets a shining example. She has time and again shown character, fortitude, and heart, both on and off the hardwood, and in the face of unbearable loss. In Standing Tall , she shares her remarkable life story, inspiring us to find this fortitude within ourselves.
“Work hard, and don’t look for excuses,” Stringer’s parents told her, “and you can achieve anything.” But her faith and perseverance would be tested many times. A gifted athlete, she had to fight for a place on an all-white cheerleading squad in the sixties. In 1981, just as her coaching career was taking off, her fourteen-month-old daughter, Nina, was stricken with spinal meningitis. Nina would never walk or talk again. Still grieving, Stringer brought a small, poor, historically black college to the national championships—a triumph hailed as “Hoosiers with an all-female cast.” In 1991, her husband, Bill—her staunchest supporter, the father of her children, and the love of her life—fell dead of a sudden heart attack, but that same year, she led yet another young team to the Final Four. Through these dark times and others—including her bout with cancer, shared here for the first time—Stringer has carried her burdens with grace. Given her history, it was no surprise that she led her team to respond to Don Imus’s slurs with dignity and courage.
Standing Tall is a story of quiet strength in the face of punishing odds. Above all, it is an extraordinary love story—love for the game, for the players she has coached, for her close-knit family, and for the husband she lost far too soon. It will resonate long after the last page.
—John Chaney, Hall of Fame college basketball coach
At a time when heroes are too rare, C. Vivian Stringer sets a shining example. She has time and again shown character, fortitude, and heart, both on and off the hardwood, and in the face of unbearable loss. In Standing Tall , she shares her remarkable life story, inspiring us to find this fortitude within ourselves.
“Work hard, and don’t look for excuses,” Stringer’s parents told her, “and you can achieve anything.” But her faith and perseverance would be tested many times. A gifted athlete, she had to fight for a place on an all-white cheerleading squad in the sixties. In 1981, just as her coaching career was taking off, her fourteen-month-old daughter, Nina, was stricken with spinal meningitis. Nina would never walk or talk again. Still grieving, Stringer brought a small, poor, historically black college to the national championships—a triumph hailed as “Hoosiers with an all-female cast.” In 1991, her husband, Bill—her staunchest supporter, the father of her children, and the love of her life—fell dead of a sudden heart attack, but that same year, she led yet another young team to the Final Four. Through these dark times and others—including her bout with cancer, shared here for the first time—Stringer has carried her burdens with grace. Given her history, it was no surprise that she led her team to respond to Don Imus’s slurs with dignity and courage.
Standing Tall is a story of quiet strength in the face of punishing odds. Above all, it is an extraordinary love story—love for the game, for the players she has coached, for her close-knit family, and for the husband she lost far too soon. It will resonate long after the last page.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 10, 2015
Very enjoyable audio book. I'm from Iowa and I'm a U of Iowa fan so it was fun to listen about Coach Stringer's life. What a wonderful person and great leader for female student-athletes. Well worth the listen.
December 1, 2009
This would be 3.5 stars if we could give half stars. The story is inspiring, but I don't understand why the trend lately for ghostwriters is to leave a palimpsest so that we can be certain the celebrity had help with the writing. Isn't the point to not impose the ghostwriter's style or voice?
Worth reading if you work with young people, are a mom, want to read something motivational or about leadership, or are a sports fan. She covers a lot of bases.
Worth reading if you work with young people, are a mom, want to read something motivational or about leadership, or are a sports fan. She covers a lot of bases.
November 1, 2018
After reading this book, I understand more why my mom is so passionate about Rutgers basketball, and I especially see why she admires Coach Stringer so much. Coach Stringer rose from poverty, became the first in her family to graduate from college, and became one of the most respected coaches in the country, even as she has dealt with a devastating string of personal losses and difficulties. She has also been an advocate for women, and especially black women, in the athletic world.
Read the rest on my blog!
Read the rest on my blog!
December 9, 2024
Would give it 4.5.
I don’t remember how I heard about Coach Stringer’s story but I put her book on hold immediately after learning she coached Iowa women’s basketball. This memoir was a sweet look at Coach Stringer’s life both personally and professionally. As someone who loves women’s basketball, I’m disappointed I hadn’t known her story sooner. Truly a trailblazer for the game.
I don’t remember how I heard about Coach Stringer’s story but I put her book on hold immediately after learning she coached Iowa women’s basketball. This memoir was a sweet look at Coach Stringer’s life both personally and professionally. As someone who loves women’s basketball, I’m disappointed I hadn’t known her story sooner. Truly a trailblazer for the game.
January 8, 2019
Great book. She is an inspiration. Enjoyed the athletic content.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
Excellent biography of Vivian Stringer and her trials and tribulations on her way thru life.
June 12, 2021
What a great story from one of the best coaches in women's basketball. She overcame so much in her life with style and grace. A very enjoyable read!
July 25, 2008
I mainly read this book, because I am a big fan of Rutgers women's basketball (and a Rutgers alum, of course). Clearly writing is not C. Vivian Stringer's strong suit (she had a co-writer, but it seems like it was mainly written in her own voice.) But even though the writing wasn't the best, I found her story very compelling. I knew going into the book that she had one of the best winning records in women's basketball history and is a great coach, but I didn't realize what a pioneer she was in women's sports. I really admired her determination and perseverance to break into the male-dominated (and primarily white-male dominated) world of college sports in the 1970s and 80s.
I also admire the way that Stringer she views basketball as a vehicle for achieving more important goals than just winning games -- for her it's about helping young women to grow, learn, and become successful at whatever they chose to do after college. Plus, the grace and strength she showed in dealing with many personal challenges is quite inspirational. Although certainly not the best book stylistically, I think it is definitely worth the read!
I also admire the way that Stringer she views basketball as a vehicle for achieving more important goals than just winning games -- for her it's about helping young women to grow, learn, and become successful at whatever they chose to do after college. Plus, the grace and strength she showed in dealing with many personal challenges is quite inspirational. Although certainly not the best book stylistically, I think it is definitely worth the read!
February 27, 2011
Stringer is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Rutgers University—the team that radio-host Don Imus, in a mean-spirited attempt at humor, disparaged with a crude, racist remark, setting off a national firestorm.
It’s to Stringer’s credit that the Imus incident takes only a few pages at the end of the book. This is a memoir of a coaching career and a life in which a lout with a microphone is merely a bump in the road. Stringer recounts her childhood in a small Pennsylvania mining town with five siblings and parents who prepared their children for success with love and discipline.
After beginning as an unpaid volunteer coach at tiny Cheyney State, Stringer went on to revive a dormant program at Iowa before moving to Rutgers. Along the way, she recounts the personal tragedies that have paralleled her professional success: an infant daughter who contracted spinal meningitis; a husband who died at 44; her own bout with breast cancer. This is an emotional roller coaster of a memoir, but it is told with humor, passion, and gratitude. An inspiring life story—and certain to get plenty of attention.
It’s to Stringer’s credit that the Imus incident takes only a few pages at the end of the book. This is a memoir of a coaching career and a life in which a lout with a microphone is merely a bump in the road. Stringer recounts her childhood in a small Pennsylvania mining town with five siblings and parents who prepared their children for success with love and discipline.
After beginning as an unpaid volunteer coach at tiny Cheyney State, Stringer went on to revive a dormant program at Iowa before moving to Rutgers. Along the way, she recounts the personal tragedies that have paralleled her professional success: an infant daughter who contracted spinal meningitis; a husband who died at 44; her own bout with breast cancer. This is an emotional roller coaster of a memoir, but it is told with humor, passion, and gratitude. An inspiring life story—and certain to get plenty of attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2011
For the first half of this book, i tho't it was too schmaltzy, in fact i put it down for a couple of months. I picked it up last week and she was just "going to Rutgers" as coach. The rest of the book seemed to me to be so much better than the first half. It moved along better, it was more interesting to me and captured me. Last night i was reading about the 2006-7 season and i couldn't put the book down - maybe it was knowing what was coming at the end of the season. I also cried thru the whole ''season." Her style now seemed appropriate - maybe i just decided that's who she is - and the story is, of course, compelling - the change in the team thru the season, the spontaneous coming together of previous players to motivate the team, their victories, and, of course, Imus' idiot statements.
May 1, 2014
This book gives plenty of detail about her life and I truly understand her (and those who have played and coached for her) better. She is a strong, powerful, influential person who has helped shape the lives of many, and that is obvious. What I didn't like was her quoting conversations from 20 and 30 years ago. In fact, I know someone who is mentioned in the book and she said that the way she and her teammates are mentioned in the book isn't 100% accurate. However, Coach Stringer did get her point across by using them as an example.
This is an easy read and very non threatening. Just a look into the life of someone else and the empire that she runs, both at home and as head coach at Rutgers University.
This is an easy read and very non threatening. Just a look into the life of someone else and the empire that she runs, both at home and as head coach at Rutgers University.
October 18, 2008
Explore the triumphs and tradegies that C. Vivian Stringer has gone through in her life by reading Standing Tall. My opinion is that this book is one of my favorite books I have ever read. It tells a story on how this miraculous women brought almost 3 teams from being the worst team to going to the top 4 tournament. Also, this women kept on moving in her life when her daughter got menigitis and is stuck in a wheel chair for the rest of her life. My advice is to read this book. This isn't even a book, it's a timeline of this women's journey from being a great mom and a brilliant basketball player.
May 25, 2009
I hope listening to a book on tape counts.I loved this powerful story about a woman who more than holds her own as coach,wife and mother while operating in a male dominated field.
She shares her story by flip flopping between her family life and professional life. Her story gives some insight
into women's basketbal when coaches were paid very little. She was in it for the love of the game.
She shares the tragdies and triumphs leading up to the infamous moment when Imus called "her girls" on her team that she hand picked and recruited "nappy headed hoes".
She shares her story by flip flopping between her family life and professional life. Her story gives some insight
into women's basketbal when coaches were paid very little. She was in it for the love of the game.
She shares the tragdies and triumphs leading up to the infamous moment when Imus called "her girls" on her team that she hand picked and recruited "nappy headed hoes".
December 29, 2011
I loved it. I love love loved it. I wasnt phased by the ghost writing or voice of the book, I wouldnt even venture to say that Stringer isnt a good writer. I think we discredit her by only referring to her as the coach whose team was the target of the racial slurs after their national championship game. More than that, she is one of the best womens basketball coaches of all time and has an inspirational story to tell about overcoming obstacles, using sports to teach about life, valuing family, and leadership and determination.
May 25, 2008
THis is a MUST read, for anyone who has known Vivian or admired her over the years. This woman has been to hell and back and yet, she has risen above it all, standing tall. I knew of some of her tragedies, but not all and they kept on coming.What a tremendous inspiration for ALL women, mothers, daughters, friends, coaches, professionals...of all colors, socio-economic backgrounds. I strung the last 20 pages out for days, because I did not want her-story to end. WOW!
June 25, 2013
C. Vivian Stringer is a college basketball coach who has taken her teams to the Final Four at three different schools. But her life isn't just about basketball. She lives what she teaches her girls. Dignity, family and education.
Why I started it: I needed a good pep talk.
Why I finished it: Stringer was down to earth and encouraging. Very motivational. I would sign up to be her team in an instance.
Why I started it: I needed a good pep talk.
Why I finished it: Stringer was down to earth and encouraging. Very motivational. I would sign up to be her team in an instance.
August 26, 2013
I was skeptical to read this as part of a book discussion. But, Stringer is a very inspirational figure to anyone and I can't help but be impressed on her success and how much she has overcome in her life. The book is likewise gripping and very catchy once you start in. Would definitely recommend for sports lovers, those who are looking for a good biography, or just anyone looking for a bit of inspiration in their lives.
July 6, 2014
Recently I have become more interested in women's college basketball. In all of my research, one name that keeps coming up is C. Vivian Stringer, currently the head coach at Rutgers University. This is a fascinating look at her life, her family, her career, and the impact she has had on her players and the sport. This is a great book if you are interested in women's basketball or in learning how to deal with difficulties in life.
December 10, 2008
If you like basketball historical event and curious about her life journey, read it. I used to play basketball, and glad for her success, and curious about her life journey. Instead, I only skimmed through the story, looked at the pictures, and unable to lure me in to do more critical reading. I heard most of her story on 700 Club, which is more detailed in the book.
May 16, 2010
I gave this book 5 stars for it's heart. Coach Stringer's life's story is full of so much more than what I knew. The Don Imus comments only represent one chapter in the book. She is a strong woman and a life-changing coach. This book is a good book for women to read, a good book for sports fans, and a good book for student-athletes. I'm a Rutger's fan now!
September 22, 2012
What a great book! I considered five stars--it difinitely deserves another half--but I won't read it again and that's my personal criterion for five. The author is a women's basketball coach, now at Rutgers University, who loves dearly to win but is even more dedicated to helping her players become women of honor and integrity. Very inspiring!
April 2, 2013
I met Coach Stringer when she first came to the University of Iowa and worked her camps for several years. She is one of the finest persons that I have ever met. I was interested in reading this book in order to find out more about her life. I feel the book gives good background information first hand into her life both on and off the court.
August 15, 2019
A classic case of telling, not showing, what makes Stringer such a great coach and leader.
April 5, 2008
C. Vivian Stringer is a phenomenal woman who is also one the best coaches. She has and is an incredible roll model who has endured many hardships in her personal and professional life, yet she has stood tall. This was a fast read too!
August 15, 2009
I really enjoyed reading about Stringer's life and her coaching philosophy. I was excited to hear that there are still coaches out there who take the job seriously and not only teach their young people about the game but also about life.
May 24, 2008
I was anticipating this book for so long, I bought the hardcover the day it was released. I was glad I did. Leading her Rutgers Team through the Imus saga was a small portion of her lifelong battles.Vivian Stringer is an incredible woman with a great story. Another one to stay in my library.
July 6, 2008
When I started this book, I thought Vivian Stringer deserved a much better ghostwriter...then I couldn't put the book down. The actual writing still leaves a lot to be desired, but Stringer's story is so fascinating, it matters a bit less.
November 20, 2008
I wish I could give this book 3 1/2 stars. Coach Stringer's story is amazing. What an inspiration! The writing quality did not stand out at all. It was fine, but no great shakes. I look forward to following the Scarlet Knights and celebrating with Coach when she does get the championship!
October 10, 2008
I am still reading this one but so far it is really good. I got it because I am trying to learn some new things about basketball but it is more about lessons you learn about life through sports and hard work.
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April 3, 2009Vivian is a testament of optimism, she succeeded despite so much adversity
wow her life story reads like a movie, how does she live her life in such greatness given that her entire immediate family has suffered great tragedy simply amazing!
wow her life story reads like a movie, how does she live her life in such greatness given that her entire immediate family has suffered great tragedy simply amazing!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews